Web Marketing! We all have to participate!

It is absolutely the best time to advertise online if you are a real estate agent. Right now, your competitors at CBB, ReMax, KW and others are utilizing the web to get more clients. It's one of the most cost effective ways to advertise and [it's time for you to do the same!] I am amazed that more agents aren't taking advantage of online advertising with Google. We all used to spend money on the newspaper but we're not spending money online. I don't get it.

As we all know the home buying process starts online whereas in the past it started with the Sunday paper and a drive around town. I remember back about 12-15 years ago, agents had to spend a least a few hundred dollars every month on newspaper advertising. The more successful agents would spend in the thousands. I know my Mom (Linda Besk - Stillwater ER) used to spend between $600-1500 monthly to market herself and her properties. Back then you did not have to convince agents to advertise in the paper. It was something all of us just did. And it used to work. But the game has changed. Newspapers are going out of business all over the country. Advertising is down, circulation is down as more people go online to get the same information.

So where are we advertising now? If we all agree that the home buying process has shifted from newspapers to the Internet why didn't our advertising dollars follow?

Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt. Advertising online is new to us and can be difficult to understand but it's one we have to quickly adopt. Fortunately it's not as difficult or as challenging as you may think. There are really two components to create an effective web presence. The first is to make sure your prokit site is kept up to date and optimized to preform well in local searches. The second component is to pay Google, Yahoo! or MSN (or all three) a little bit on money to make sure your business shows up online.

Visit this page to learn how to get started with online advertising